JANAAC Hosts Forum for World Accreditation Day

June 12, 2017

Written by: Chad Bryan

Photo: JIS Photographer

Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) Chief Executive Officer, Sharonmae Shirley (right), holds accreditation certificate presented to the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus’ Microbiology Diagnostic Services Laboratory, at a JANAAC forum, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston on June 9. Also holding the certificate (from left) are Chairman of the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation, Randy Dougherty; Head of the Microbiology Department at UWI, Dr. Alison Nicholson; Technical Manager for the Microbiology Department, Professor Monica Smikle and JANAAC Chairman, Simon Roberts.

Story Highlights

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) hosted a forum on Friday (June 9), which focused on how accreditation can support professionals in the construction industry. These include contractors, manufacturers, designers, architects, civil engineers and regulators.

Speaking to JIS News at the forum, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, JANAAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharonmae Shirley, said that the forum aimed to bring awareness that building materials used in construction must conform to certain standards.

During the forum, the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus’ Microbiology Diagnostic Services Laboratory was awarded an accreditation certificate for having satisfied all the requirements necessary for medical laboratories.

The Jamaica National Agency for Accreditation (JANAAC) hosted a forum on Friday (June 9), which focused on how accreditation can support professionals in the construction industry.

These include contractors, manufacturers, designers, architects, civil engineers and regulators.

Importantly, accreditation determines the technical competence, integrity and impartiality of organisations providing conformity assessment services, such as testing, calibration, certification and inspection based on international standards.

Speaking to JIS News at the forum, held at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, JANAAC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharonmae Shirley, said that the forum aimed to bring awareness that building materials used in construction must conform to certain standards.

“So, the construction blocks, the aggregates, the cement and concrete, all of these materials ought to be tested in an accredited laboratory,” she emphasised.

Mrs. Shirley further noted that when developers and other construction players use the materials, there should be a guarantee of their quality and integrity.

Meanwhile, Director General in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Vivian Brown, said it is important to ensure the highest level of standards in the construction industry, especially with the threat and frequency of climate events.

Mr. Brown, who delivered remarks on behalf of Portfolio Minister, Hon. Karl Samuda, pointed out that increased globalisation has resulted in the need for increased standardisation of products and services, and, with this, increased conformity assessment requirements.

“Indeed, our global trading partners are demanding products and services that meet rigorous and advanced standards to satisfy customer expectations and to comply with their technical regulations,” he said.

The Director General congratulated the staff and management of JANAAC for their role in providing internationally recognised accreditation and training services to laboratories, inspection bodies and certification bodies.

He also lauded JANAAC for being the only internationally recognised accreditation body in the English-speaking Caribbean, which means that test results from its laboratory, or any of its conformity assessment bodies, are accepted worldwide.

During the forum, the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus’ Microbiology Diagnostic Services Laboratory was awarded an accreditation certificate for having satisfied all the requirements necessary for medical laboratories.

The forum was held under the theme ‘Delivering confidence in construction and the built environment’ and was part of World Accreditation Day celebrations in approximately 90 countries.

The theme, which is adopted worldwide, is important, especially to Small Island Developing States, such as Jamaica, as assuring the quality and integrity of the nation’s physical infrastructure is paramount.

JANAAC was incorporated in 2008 as an agency of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.